Buzzing in the East End – Southeast London
Between 2025 and 2029 we will be discovering, protecting, and celebrating some of our rarest bumblebees as we make a buzz in Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, and Lewisham.
What are we doing?
London is home to many of our rarest bumblebees, including the Shrill carder bumblebee (Bombus sylvarum), Brown-banded carder bumblebee (Bombus humilis), and Ruderal bumblebee (Bombus ruderatus).
During 2024, we worked with local people across 11 boroughs of east and southeast London to design a project that would connect local communities with these rare bumblebees. We created wildflower-rich habitats, trained local people in bumblebee identification, and secured funding to make our plans a reality in four of the boroughs.
Thanks to generous support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Kusuma Trust UK, and Pennington Law, between 2025 and 2029 we will:
- Engage farmers and local communities to create bumblebee-friendly habitat across Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, and Lewisham.
- Increase our understanding of urban bumblebees by running bumblebee blitzes and setting up BeeWalks to monitor rare and common bumblebee populations.
- Deliver bumblebee and wildflower ID training sessions to upskill the local community.
- Recruit and train new BeeWalk volunteers and Bumblebee Champions to inspire local action.
- Raise awareness of the importance of bumblebees and the threats that they face, by developing educational resources and hosting community events, including “well bee-ing” sessions, pollinator picnics, creative workshops and more.
- Organise a Bumblebees of the World Food Festival in 2027, celebrating the vital link between bumblebees, culture, and food.
You can view our development phase report using the link at the bottom of the page.
Our fundraising team is working hard to secure further funding to expand the project to more boroughs in future years. If you would like more information on how you or your business can make a donation, please contact fundraising@bumblebeeconservation.org
Get involved!
We’re looking for volunteers from all walks of life to support the project! Whether you’re passionate about bumblebees or have a skill to share, there’s a place for you:
• Become a BeeWalker and help monitor bumblebee populations.
• Be a Bumblebee Champion and deliver simple guided walks and talks within your community.
• Help create and maintain bumblebee-friendly habitats.
• Use your unique skillset, such as creating art, leading workshops, or taking photos to support the project.
If you are interested in getting involved as a volunteer, please email volunteering@bumblebeeconservation.org
If you are a local landowner looking for habitat management advice or would like to work with us at a local event, then please contact buzzinglondon@bumblebeeconservation.org
Stay up to date with our project news
Find us on social media, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.
Sign up to the Buzzing in the East End (B.E.E) monthly newsletter for updates on the project, insights into the bumblebees living in London, and invites to upcoming events and volunteering opportunities.
